Taiwanese cinematographer Lin Tsan-ting (林贊庭) passed away on Mar. 14 at the age of 95. Minister of Culture Li Yuan attended his memorial service on Apr. 2 and presented a presidential citation in recognition of Lin’s outstanding contributions to Taiwan’s film industry. The citation was received on his behalf by his son, Lin Liang-chung (林良忠).
Born in 1930 in Fengyuan District (豐原區), Taichung City, Lin began his filmmaking journey at the Agricultural Education Film Studio, the predecessor of Central Pictures Corporation. He made his debut as a cinematographer in 1957 with “Love’s Crossroad (愛情十字路),” marking the start of a prolific career in producing nearly 130 films. Lin was a key figure in the industry from black-and-white movies through to color ones, a living history of Taiwanese cinema. His work earned him numerous accolades, including multiple Golden Horse Awards and the Asia Pacific Film Festival Awards for Best Cinematography. In 2021, he became the first cinematographer to receive the Golden Horse Lifetime Achievement Award.
Minister Li praised Lin’s pivotal role as one of the earliest cinematographers at Central Pictures Corporation, noting that his contributions to numerous films are significant and that his impact on the development of Taiwanese cinema is far-reaching.